On the Road to Rarotonga [Paperback]

Jack Varney (Author), Phyllis Varney (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2, 2000

After years of dedication to their careers, Jack and Phyllis Varney discovered that all they really had was a collection of glittery, expensive stuff. They didn’t have much opportunity to enjoy their things, each other, their friends, or even the world around them. They had always been too busy in the roller derby struggle to achieve the contemporary definition of success. But somewhere between success and die, they were determined to get a life. In their minds, life is way too short, and there should be more to it than pretentious participation. So they sold their house, the contents of the house, and their cars. They found new homes for the dogs, made out new Wills and Powers of Attorney, and closed most of the material links to life, as they knew it. They were determined to become free agents in charge of their little measure of time on this vast and wonderful planet.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Jack Varney spent 10 years as a K-12 and Higher Education Technology Consultant under contract with a major computer company. Phyllis Varney is a Registered Nurse, and was a department level manager for many years. Jack and Phyllis Varney, married and best friends in life, currently travel the world together as The Planetary Explorers, and write candidly about their rather unique adventures. They refer to themselves as, "... desperately disenchanted escapees from the tyranny of the corporate world." Jack and Phyllis now reside in Waikiki, Hawaii, while planning the next leg of their great adventure--which is shaping up to be New Zealand and Australia.

Product Details

• Paperback: 188 pages
• Publisher: PublishAmerica (November 2, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1893162982
• ISBN-13: 978-1893162983
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,124,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Island Adventure!, February 21, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: On the Road to Rarotonga (Paperback)

ON THE ROAD TO RAROTONGA

A hearty "well done" should go to Jack and Phyllis Varney, a Nurse/Survival Instructor team, for their adventure story "On the Road to Rarotonga". How refreshing that a successful couple in this day of materialism should give up their affluent modern living for the more primitive and intimate living on a small South Seas island, especially to help other people. Their appealing tale makes the remote Cook Islands come alive. The fascinating people, both local and international , the sexotic insects, the local lingo and customs make Rarotonga appeal to a lot of us city dwellers.

Well written , amusing and informative, this book is a must read for all who long to get away from the rat race of modern American life. We look forward to their next great adventure and its accompanying entertaining and informative story. A great number of people should soon be Varney fans.

Barbara Grimm The Kalia Book Club Honolulu

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful, entertaining read!, February 17, 2001

By 

"happyhawaiian" (Honolulu, Hawaii) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Road to Rarotonga (Paperback)

This book will not leave my library. Friends and relatives will just have to buy their own copy! On the Road to Rarotonga is a unique, exciting, real-life adventure narrative liberally sprinkled with wit, humor, drama, strong opinion, and detailed personal observation. The writing style might be considered a tad unorthodox, but it is clear, crisp, and wonderfully refreshing. The authors were able to pull me into their story almost immediately. I felt as though I was living the journey right along with them. The is definitely a fun, entertaining, and informative read!

Elizabeth Hamster Honolulu, Hawaii

1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Leave the Rat Race for, "On the Road to Rarotonga", April 25, 2001

By 

TD "TD" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: On the Road to Rarotonga (Paperback)

Everyone dreams, but few raise them from the subconscious level to reality. Fewer still manage to finagle a working model while leaving reality simpering, hog-tied, and banished to the dunce corner. Bursting with wit, On the Road to Rarotonga provides glimpses into a South Pacific, almost-paradise discovered (or rather made) by adventurers Jack and Phyllis Varney.

The shifting narration may puzzle the mind initially, but the minor adaptation efforts prove beneficial to the overall effect, which yanks the reader into the banter and recounted fray. "Phyllis was closest to the pyrotechnic display as it erupted, and suddenly developed the ability to levitate by rapidly sucking in volumes of air and wildly flapping her arms about. Jack leaped sideways from his chair, rolling across the floor, nearly taking the kitchen table and window curtains with him." Every so often the voices seem to blur and meld together, making it unclear who has spoken; but far from being a glitch, the quirk endears. Uninvited, multi-legged houseguest tales and further escapades with electricity veritably buzz along, bolstered by the unusual style.

A little something for all exists buried within the pages-trekkies, giant spider lovers, and politician-loathers included. Scattered bits of criticism-or observations-about the modern societal mess, sneaks upon the enthralled only to leave them blinking and sputtering confused, enlightened, or indignant. In the end, readers may secretly wish /they'd/ thrown the dart at the map, abandoned career, trotted off to Rarotonga, met delightfully interesting people, and fried the VCR /first/.